Sighting Device and Method

ABSTRACT

A sighting device includes an optical element, a light source, and a main body. The light source is disposed on an object side of the optical element to generate light which passes through the optical element and arrives at an image side of the optical element. The main body houses the optical element and the light source. The main body includes an upright part and an extended part. The extended part extends from the upright part toward the object side. The light source is disposed in the extended part. The optical element is disposed in the upright part. A sighting method includes operating the sighting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a sighting device and a sighting method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, in shooting, a sighting device 30 is usually matched with a gun 20 to enhance the hit accuracy.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sighting device 30 includes a main body 31, an optical element (such as lens) 32, and a light source 33 (such as red light-emitting diode). The optical element 32 and the light source 33 are installed in the main body 31.

In operation, light is emitted from the light source 33 and reflected by the optical element 32 to user's eyes 40 so that the user can see a red dot on the optical element 32. Then, the user aims the red dot at a distant target 10, pulls the trigger, and fires the gun 20.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C illustrate the producing procedure of the optical element 32. As shown in FIG. 3A, a round lens 60 is cut along its diameter to obtain two pieces of semicircle lens wherein reference numeral 61 represents the cutting line. As shown in FIG. 3B, each of the semicircle lenses is cut along cutting lines 62 to obtain the optical element 32 shown in FIG. 3C.

The round lens 60 has a center C. After cutting, the center C is located at the bottom of the optical element 32. Referring to FIG. 2, during assembly of the sighting device 30, the light source 33 is located to aim at the center C.

Conventionally, the light source 30 of the sighting device 30 and user's eye 40 are on the same side of the optical element 32. As a result, too much light emitted from the light source 33 goes into user's eyes that is uncomfortable for the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a sighting device, in which the light source and user's eyes are on different sides of the optical element. The light source is installed on the object side, which is different from the conventional light source installed on the image side. Therefore, the assembly and aiming operation of the sighting device of the invention can be accomplished in different situations to meet different demands. The assembly and aiming operation of the sighting device of the invention are more flexible. User's eyes are effectively protected because light into user's eyes is reduced.

The sighting device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an optical element and a light source. The light source is disposed on an object side of the optical element to generate light which passes through the optical element and arrives at an image side of the optical element.

In another exemplary embodiment, the optical element includes a first surface and a second surface, the first surface faces the object side, and the second surface faces the image side.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first surface is convex and the second surface is concave.

In another exemplary embodiment, the optical element further includes a reflecting coating disposed on the first surface.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the sighting device further includes a lens attached to the reflecting coating.

In another exemplary embodiment, the first surface is aspheric.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second surface is aspheric.

In another exemplary embodiment, the first surface and the second surface are aspheric.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the light source is located at a focus of the optical element.

In another exemplary embodiment, the sighting device further includes a main body which houses the optical element and the light source.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the main body includes an upright part and an extended part, the extended part extends from the upright part toward the object side, and the light source is disposed in the extended part.

In another exemplary embodiment, the main body includes an upright part and an extended part, the extended part extends from the upright part toward the object side, and the optical element is disposed in the upright part.

The invention further provides a sighting method, including the steps of providing a sighting device which comprises an optical element, an extended part, and a light source disposed in the extended part; mounting the sighting device on a gun, with the extended part extending towards a muzzle of the gun; using an eye to observe an object through the sighting device, wherein the eye and the light source are on different sides of the optical element.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sighting device further comprises an upright part with the optical element disposed in therein, and the extended part extends from the upright part towards the muzzle of the gun.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional sighting device mounted on a gum;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the conventional sighting device;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict the producing procedure of an optical element of the conventional sighting device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a sighting device in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 4, a sighting device 50 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a main body 51, an optical element (such as lens) 52, and a light source 53 (such as red light-emitting diode).

In operation, light is emitted from the light source 53, pass through the optical element 52, and enters user's eyes 40 so that the user can see a red dot on the optical element 52. Then, the user aims the red dot at a distant target 10, pulls the trigger, and fires the gun 20.

The optical element 52 includes a first surface 521 and a second surface 522. The first surface 521 faces the object side of the optical element 52, and the second surface 522 faces the image side of the optical element 52.

The first surface 521 of the optical element 52 can be convex, and the second surface can be concave; that is to say, the shape of the optical element 52 is meniscus.

The first surface 521 of the optical element 52 can be aspheric, or the second surface can be aspheric, or both first surface 521 and second surface 522 are aspheric.

A reflecting coating (not shown) can be coated on the first surface 521 to reduce the light penetrating the optical element 52 thereby avoiding the damage to user's eyes caused by intense light. Furthermore, a piece of lens (not shown) can be attached to the reflecting coating for providing protection.

The main body 51 includes an upright part 511 and an extended part 512. The extended part 512 extends from the upright part 511 toward the object side of the optical element 52. The optical element 52 is installed in the upright part 511, and the light source 53 is installed in the extended part 512. During assembly, the light source 53 is located to aim at the center C′ of the uncut optical element 52. Therefore, the light source 53 is located on the focus of the optical element 52.

The light source 53 of the sighting device and user's eye 40 are on the different sides of the optical element 52. The light source 53 is installed on the object side, which is different from the conventional light source 33 installed on the image side. Therefore, the assembly and aiming operation of the sighting device of the invention can be accomplished in different situations to meet different demands. The assembly and aiming operation of the sighting device of the invention are more flexible. User's eyes are effectively protected because light into user's eyes is reduced. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sighting device, comprising: an optical element; a light source disposed on an object side of the optical element to generate light which passes through the optical element and arrives at an image side of the optical element; a main body housing the optical element and the light source, wherein the main body comprises an upright part and an extended part, the extended part extends from the upright part toward the object side, the light source is disposed in the extended part, and the optical element is disposed in the upright part.
 2. The sighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface faces the object side, and the second surface faces the image side.
 3. The sighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first surface is convex and the second surface is concave.
 4. The sighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical element further comprises a reflecting coating disposed on the first surface.
 5. The sighting device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a lens attached to the reflecting coating.
 6. The sighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first surface is aspheric.
 7. The sighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second surface is aspheric.
 8. The sighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first surface and the second surface are aspheric.
 9. The sighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is located at a focus of the optical element.
 10. A sighting method, comprising: providing a sighting device which comprises an optical element, an extended part, and a light source disposed in the extended part; mounting the sighting device on a gun, with the extended part extending towards a muzzle of the gun; using an eye to observe an object through the sighting device, wherein the eye and the light source are on different sides of the optical element.
 11. The sighting method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sighting device further comprises an upright part with the optical element disposed in therein, and the extended part extends from the upright part towards the muzzle of the gun. 